Amusement device



Feb. 4, 1941. A. HOUGH AMUSEMENT DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 22, 1940 PN E flrthur I .Eou W/ ATTORNEYS Feb. 4, 1941.

A. HOUGH AMUSEMENT DEVIQE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR flrthur lii ou g Filed Jan. 22-, 1940 ATTORNEYS Feb. 4, 1941. A. 1.. HOUGH AMUSEMENT DEV ICE Filed Jan. 22, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 flrthw 115 21,

'ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improved amusement devices and especially is concerned with a novel amusement device of the type comprising a hazard board over which a fired projectile moves.

It is among the more important objects of this invention to provide a novel amusement device including a hazard board traversed by a projectile and means associated with said board for fortuitously receiving the projectile in one of a number of chambers and whereby the projectile, when received in thefortuitously selected chamber, causes operation of ancillary mechanism of a type calculated to amuse a player.

Another object of this invention is to provide a so-called amusement device adapted to simulate, in the opinion of some, certain aspects of an auction.

A feature of the amusement device, according to this invention, is that it frequently can serve as a source of entertainment for appreciable periods of time inasmuch as the operation of the device depends upon the happening of a plurality of fortuitous transactions.

An advantage of this amusement device over other and similar amusement devices is the simplicity both of construction and of operation which suits it, from the standpoint of manufacture, to the requirements of mass production and, from the standpoint of operation, to general and widespread use among persons of both mature .and immature age.

Other objects, advantages and features of the new and improved amusement device according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in this art during the course of the following description.

In order to facilitate a fuller and more complete understanding of the present invention, a specific embodiment thereof herein illustrated will be hereinafter described, it being clearly understood, however, that the illustrated embodiment, although presently preferred, is provided solely by way of example of the practice of this invention and not by way of limitation thereof except insofar as the invention is recited in the subjoined claims.

Referring then to the drawings,

Figure 1 is substantially a top plan view of the presently preferred embodiment of the instant invention,

Figure 2 is essentially a vertical sectional view of the device illustrated in Fig. 1 taken along the line 2--2 thereof,

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the device,

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of Fig.1 taken along the line 44 thereof,

Figure 5 is a detailed vertical sectional view of Fig. 1 taken along the line 55,

Fig. 6 is a detailed plan view of Fig. 2 taken along the line 66,

Figures 7 and 8 are detailed vertical sectional views of Fig. 1 taken along the line 1-1 thereof showing different positions of parts of the device,

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view of Fig. 8 taken along the line 99 thereof,

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view of Fig. 1 taken along the line ||l||l thereof,

Figure 11 is a vertical sectional view of Fig. 10 taken along the line thereof, and

Figure 12 is substantially a vertical sectional view of Fig. 10 taken along the line |2|2 thereof.

From a consideration of the drawings, it will be noted that the device generally designated by the numeral 2|] comprises a base board 2| having a forwardly curved back portion 22 thereof, the end portion 22a of which overlies the end portion 23a of the board 23 mounted within the casing in conventional manner.

Better to concentrate the parts of the device in the following description, it is here mentioned that it is the general principle of the device to fire a projectile from the firing means generally designated by the numeral 30 in a manner such that the projectile rides over the curved inner surface of the casing end portion 22 and thereafter traverses the board 23, ultimately being received in storing means generally designated by the numeral 10.

Referring now especially to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6, wherein the details of the firing mechanism generally designated by the numeral 3|] are best illustrated, it will be noted that the firing means comprises a projectile discharging member 3| hollow and essentially cylindrical in form and horizontally oscillatory by reason of the mounting of the trunnions 3|a received in the arms of the cradle 32 pivoted on the pin 32a to parts of the base board 2|. A piston 33 carrying a pin 33a riding in the slot 3|b formed inside portions of the cylindrical member 3| normally is springpressed toward the end of the member by the spring 34 mounted between the piston and the closed end of'the member 3|. Motion of the piston '33 is facilitated by the rod 35 extending axially through the member 3| which, for convenience of use, is provided with a handle 35a essentially as shown. An offset portion tile is provided in the elongate opening 3|b formed in the member 3| whereby slight rotation of the piston 33 moves the pin or rider 33a into the oifset portion of the opening and pulls the piston in cocked position. An opening 3 Id, formed in the top portion of the cylindrical discharge member 3|, registers with a corresponding opening in the projectile guide 36 mounted on the casing end 26 as is best illustrated in Fig. 2.

It is to be understood that the relative positions of the openings 3|d and Sic is such that when the pin 33a. is positioned in the offset opening 3 In, the piston 33 will be retracted behind the opening 3|d permitting the insertion of a spherical projectile such as a marble or the like into With the;

of the handle 35a will cause the pin 33a to movefrom the offset opening 3|c and the piston 33 moving under the influence of the spring pressing means 34 will cause the projectile tobe discharged at initial velocity across the base board 2| toward the curved end portion 22 of the casing and the projectile, following said curved end portion of the casing, ultimately will fall upon and traverse the board 23 as will be hereinafter described.

In addition to discharging the projectile, axial motion of the spring-pressed piston 33 also operates a display device generally designated by the numeral 31 which now will be described. Downwardly extending arms 38 mounted on underportions of the board 23 are provided with registerable openings in the end portions thereof freely rotatably holding the arbor 39 upon which is mounted the indicia carrying display wheel 40, the indicia of which are visible tothe player through the opening 40a formed in the board 23. The arbor 39 also carries the ratchet wheel 4|, the teeth of which engage with the pawl 4|a whereby clockwise rotation of the arbor is limited and controlled. It will be noted, referring especially to Fig. 6, that the pawl Ma is carried upon an arm Mb mounted on one of the supporting members 38 hereinabove described.

An arm 42, freely rotatably mounted upon the arbor 39, carries a second pawl 42a which likewise engages with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 4| in a manner such that counter-clockwise rotation of the arm 42 causes counter-clockwise rotation of the indicia carrying wheel 40. Counter-clockwise motion is imparted to the arm 42 by the sliding rod 43 held in the supporting member 43a which, in turn, is mounted upon a partition 21 as illustrated in Fig, 2. Normally the arm 42 is pulled in a clockwise direction by the spring 44 attached to a projecting formation 4411 on the rod 43 and to parts of the support 43a. The free end portion 43b of the rod 43 carries a horizontally extending arcuately curved member 430 adapted to engage with the pin 33a, carried on the piston 33 hereinabove described whereby, when a projectile is discharged from a cylinder 3|, the pin 33a striking against the member 430 causes counter-clockwise rotative motion of the arm 42, thereby advancing the ratchet wheel 4| one tooth and moving the indicia carrying wheel 40 to expose different indicia.

Reference is now made to Figs. 1; 10, 11 and 12 wherein features of the so-called auctioneer device generally designated by the numeral 50 forming part of the amusement device according to the present invention are best illustrated.

It will be noted that the auctioneer device comprises an operating knob mounted upon a spindle 52 positioned exterior the casing side 25, the spindle carrying a gear 53 meshing with another gear 54 mounted on a shaft 54a journaled in arms 55 attached to under parts of the board 23 substantially as illustrated. The gear 54 meshes with a small pinion gear 55 carried on the shaft 56 on which also is mounted a star wheel 51 whereby rotation of the knob or handle 5| causes rotation of the star wheel. A freely pivoted arm 58 mounted on the brackets 58a attaohed to the under surface of the board 23 is provided with a projecting formation 5% adapted to ride upon the star wheel in a manner such that during rotation of the star wheel, vertical oscillation of the arm 58 results. An indicia bearing curved plate 59 is mounted upon the end portionof the arm 58 and, during oscillation of the arm, is ultimately exposed and concealed in the opening 59a formed in the board 23. An endless belt 60 extending around the freely rotatable supported pulley 6| and the pulley wheel 62 carried on the arbor 52 exposes various indicia carried on the surface thereof through the window 60a formed in the board 23 whereby, as will be evident from consideration of the foregoing, various characters, indicia, etc., can be exhibited through said window 60a by rotation of the knob or handle 5|.

' As the projectile discharge from the cylinder 3| as hereinabove described passes downwardly over the inclined board 23, it encounters a plurality of hazards 28 indiscriminately arranged on the board surface essentially as shown. It is to be noted further that in addition to the hazards 28, openings 29 are provided leading to sumps 33 extending under portions of the board 23 and having outlets 63a.

Referring now especially to Figs. 2, 7, 8 and 9 wherein details of the sumps best are illustrated, it will be noted that each is provided with an opening 63b extending along the bottom thereof within which rests the pivoted arm 64 mounted in the bracket 64a attached to underportions of the board 23. The free end portion of the arm 64 isvwaved as indicated generally by the numeral 64b whereby a projectile descending through the openings 29 rides along the waved portion 64b of the arm 64 causing oscillating motion of the arm prior to discharge of the projectile through the openings 63a as will be evident to those skilled in this art. The arms 64 normally are held in raised position, as shown in Fig. 7, by the arms 65 mounted in the brackets 65a attached to under parts of the board 23, the arms 65 having end portions 65b which rest against parts of the arms 64. The arms 65 normally tend to move in a clockwise direction by reason of action of gravity upon the weighted indicia carrying end portions. 66 thereof. As will be apparent from a consideration of the drawings, when aprojectile passes into one of thesumpscausing downward motion of the corresponding arm 64 and counter-clockwise motion of the corresponding arm 65, the indicia carrying weighted end portion 66 of the arm 65 is moved from retracted concealed position illustrated in Fig. 7 to projecting exposed position illustrated in Fig. 8'.

Reference is now made particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 wherein details of the projectile receiving mechanism generally designated by the numeral best are illustrated. A plurality of spaced upwardly extending partitions, some of which are designated by the numeral 'H, are mounted in a row transversely extending across the lowermost end of the board 23, it being under stood of course that the partitions are spaced with respect to each other to a degree sufficient to permit free accommodation of the projectile therebetween. The fronts of the pockets defined by the partitions are opened, but the backs are closed by flaps, some of which are designated by the numeral l2, each fixedly mounted upon a transversely extending rod 13 journaled in the sides 25 of the casing, the rod being rotatable by the knob M whereby the flaps can be moved backw'ardly and upwardly to permit the projectiles to fall down into the inclined trough 15 from which they discharge into the sliding drawer 16 wherein they are stored for subsequent use. Certain of the pockets, namely the pockets generally designated by the numeral 11 are provided with flaps '58 mounted on a freely rotatable arbor l9 actuable by a handle which may be operated independently of the flaps closing the backs of the other pockets hereinabove described. It will be noted that projectiles discharge from the pockets TI and do not fall into the trough 15 as hereinabove described, but instead are discharged into the sliding drawer 8| for purposes which hereinafter more clearly will be apparent. It will be noted that While the flaps I8 normally rest in vertical position by action of gravity upon the handle 80, the flaps 12 are held in vertical position by a spring 82 attached to one of the fiaps and to the casing side 25, a stop 83 being provided to limit the spring-tensioning action.

Referring now especially to Figs. 1, 2 and 5, it will be noted that the bottoms of each of the pockets is open except for a normally upwardly slanting plate 85 carried on the end portion 86 of the arm 81 mounted in the brackets 88 attached to the under portion of the board 23. The opposite end portion 89 of the arm 81 carries a weighted indicia carrying a curved plate 90 which normally is positioned as shown in Fig. 5 with the plate concealed within and beneath the opening 9! formed in the board 23.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 2, when a projectile moves within one. of the pockets, it rests upon the plate 85, thereby counter-balancing the weight of the plate 90 and causing the arm to move to a position such that the plate 9!] is exposed, thereby both exhibiting the indicia carried on the plate 90 and also providing an additional hazard to be encountered by projectiles traveling over the surface of the board 23 toward a projectile storing means generally designated by the numeral 10.

Having thus described the present embodiment of this invention, the presently preferred method of operating an amusement device now will be described. Projectiles stored in the drawers 16 and 8! are collected and fired from the projectile discharging means generally designated by the numeral 36, the operator, if so desired, aiming the discharging means by oscillating same on the pivot 32a. The discharge projectiles travel against the inner curved surface of the casing end 22 and pass therefrom unto the top surface of the board 23 and travel both by action of momentum and gravity over the inclined surface of the board in the general direction of the projectile receiving means generally designated by the numeral 18. As the projectiles traverse the board they encounter the various 28 and also the sumps B3 hereinabove described. It will be understood from the foregoing description that projectiles passing through the sumps cause oscillation of the plates 66. Having avoided the various obstacles, the projectiles ultimately are received in the pockets of the projectile receiving means 10 whereby certain of the plates 90 are moved into exposed position. Operation of the knob 14 and of the handle 80 permits discharge of the projectiles into the storage drawers l6 and 8| and the course of play then can be repeated. It is preferred that the plates 90 carry indicia corresponding to cash prices to be bid for objects, the" names of which are exposed through the window 60a and carried on the endless belt 60. The number of each play preferably is indicated by indicia carried on the wheel 40 exposed through the window 48a. The plates 59 and 66 can carry indicia or other matter having real or fancied relation to the game.

It is to be understood that this invention is capable of extended application and is not confined to the precise illustrated forms nor described construction and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an amusement device of the type including a game board traversed by a moving projectile, the improvements which comprise obstacles comprising a channel through which, upon occasion, a projectile may pass, the bottom of said channel having a longitudinally extending slot formed therein; a vertically arranged oscillatory undulating arm positioned within said opening in a manner such that a projectile passing through the channel rides on the undulated portion of said arm causing oscillation of the arm; a pivotally mounted indicia-bearing plate normally concealed within and beneath an opening formed in said board connected to said arm whereby passage of a projectile through said channel oscillating said arm causes said plate to move upwardly and outwardly through said opening into exposed position.

2. In an amusement device of the type including a game board traversed by a fired projectile, the improvements which comprise obstacles comprising a pair of openings formed in the board disposed in spaced relation in a line of projectile travel; a sump beneath said board connecting said openings, said sump having a longitudinally extending opening formed in bottom. parts thereof; a vertically oscillatory undulated first arm, pivotally mounted near said sump, normally positioned with the undulated portion thereof extending upwardly through the opening in the sump bottom in a manner such that a projectile traveling through said sump rides on and oscillates said arm; a second arm, centrally pivotally mounted near said first arm, one end of said second arm resting against parts of said first arm in a manner whereby oscillation of the first causes oscillation of the second arm, a weighted indicia-bearing plate mounted on the other end of said second arm normally concealed within and beneath an opening formed in said board but being movable upwardly and outwardly through said opening into exposed position by passage of a projectile through said sump oscillating said first and second arms.

3. In an amusement device of the type described, comprising a board traversed by a moving projectile, projectile receiving chambers arranged below the board intermediate its ends and having open ends communicating with the scribed, moving projectile and arranged in an inclined upper face of the board, pivoted corrugated arms extending through the bottom of the chambers, and indicia bearing plates pivotally mounted beneath said board and operatively connected with the pivoted corrugated arms, said indicia bearing plates arranged below openings in the board, whereby the passage of the projectile through the chamber causes a rapid movement of the indicia bearing plates through the openings.

4. In an amusement device of the type decomprising a. board traversed by a.

position, projectile receiving chambers arranged below the board intermediate its ends and having 

